A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.

].
This is one of the four species that are harvested commercially for their wood, known collectively as 'rock elm'. The other three species are Ulmus thomasii (which is the actual rock elm), Ulmus crassifolia and Ulmus serotina. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, and is often planted as a shade tree in the southern United States[

An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

Range

Southeastern and Central N. America - Kansas to Virginia, south to Texas and Florida

Habitat

Alluvial woods and deciduous woodlands, especially dry, gravelly, acidic woodlands and glades, less often in alluvial soils on the borders of swamps and banks of streams; along fencerows, waste areas; at elevations up to 600 metres[

An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

].

Properties

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Other Uses Rating

Habit

Deciduous Tree

Height

13.00 m

Pollinators

Wind

Cultivation Status

Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The natural range of Ulmas alata has a climate that varies from warm in the South to moderately cold in the North. The region is principally within the humid climatic province of the southeastern United States, with a mean annual precipitation ranging from 1,020 - 1,520mm, with half or more of this occurring during the growing season. Throughout the greater portion of the tree's range, the growing season averages from 180 to 300 days, and average annual temperatures are from 13 - 21°c[

A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.

], a disease that has destroyed the greater part of all the native elm trees growing in countries such as Britain and USA. The disease is spread by means of beetles. Mature trees killed back by the disease will often regrow from suckers, but these too will succumb when they get larger. There is no effective cure (1992) for the problem, but most E. Asian, though not Himalayan, species are resistant (though not immune) to the disease so the potential exists to use these resistant species to develop new resistant hybrids with the native species[

A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.

]. It is thus a natural pioneer species and can be used in reforestation projects within its native range[

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.

Fairly readable, it gives details of habitats and some of the uses of trees growing in Texas.

].

Wood - close-grained, heavy, hard, not strong, brittle, difficult to split. It weighs about 46lb per cubic foot, is not considered to be as strong as other elms, but is used for tool handles, wheel hubs etc[

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet.

A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.

].
For commercial purposes the wood of winged elm is classed as hard elm or rock elm (5,13). Elm wood is used principally for furniture, hardwood dimension and flooring, boxes, and crates. Elm's excellent resistance to splitting has made it a choice wood for the manufacture of high quality hockey sticks. The manufacture of furniture continues to increase the demand for elm for bent parts of chairs such as rockers and arms[

A very comprehensice guide to about 200 species of timber trees of N. America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Mainly temperate species, plus a number of tropical species. It is downloadable from the Internet.

].

Propagation

Seed - if sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, it usually germinates within a few days[

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

]. The seed can also be harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it dries on the tree) and sown immediately in a cold frame. It should germinate very quickly and will produce a larger plant by the end of the growing season[

Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.

]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Plants should not be allowed to grow for more than two years in a nursery bed since they form a tap root and will then move badly.
Layering of suckers or coppiced shoots[